Lister cultivator



March 26, 1935. H. E. ALTGELT LISTER CULTIVATOH Filed March 31, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. E. ALTGELT LISTER CULT IVATYOR March 26, 1935.

Filed March 51, 1932 i ZSheets-Sheet 2 llll w F a Patented Mar. 26, 1935 v 1,995,955 v LISTER oULnvAron Herman E. Altgelt, South Bend, Ind., assigno to Oliver Farm Equipment Company, a corporation of Delaware Application March 31, 1932, Serial 11; Claims.

This invention relates generally to a lister cultivator, but more particularly to a tractor drawn cultivator in which a plurality of units or gangs will automatically guide themselves along the vrows for cultivating row crops.-

. sion' for the cultivator while the intermediate units are floatingly connected to the front frame structure; g

- A still further object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved lister cultivator in which a plurality of units or gang frames are pivotally connected to' the front frame structure so as to permit lateral movement with respect to each other, while the outer units areincapable of vertical movement with respect to the front frame, and the intermediate units are capable of universal movement with respect "to the front frame. I

A'still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved formof lister cultivator in which the adjacent units are staggered or off-set with respect to each other so as to allow sufficient clearance for turning to the right or .to the left at the end of the field.

Astillfurther object of the invention is to pro videa novel and improved 'lister cultivator in which a plurality of cultivator units or gangs may be raised or loweredby means of a lever from the operators seat on'the tractor and in which the draft of the tractor may beutilized in combination with manipulatingthe lever for forcing and depressing'allof the units to their proper depth into the ground." f

These, and. other objects are accomplished by providing a'construction and arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7 I

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one embodiment of my improved lister cultivator.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the center units showing the same in its lowered or operative position for cultivating the ground.

Fig. 3 is a similar side elevational view in which no. 602,198 P the cultivator units are raised to their inoperative of transporting position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed view. showing the manner in which the outside units areconnected to the front supporting frame, and- Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the universal joint or connection of .the intermediate units with the front. frame structure.

In illustrating one form of my invention Ihave shown the same as comprising a front main frame member which is preferably in the form of a tube or pipe which. in turnis supported on two spaced apart truck or suporting wheels. 11. These wheels are located in substantially the center of. the pipe, so as to straddle the middle ridge or hill. These wheels ll'are journalled on crank axles 12 which have vertically extending portions rigidly secured by means of keys and clampsto vertically extending barrel portions 13 formed on brackets 15 which in turn are rigidly secured to .the pipe 10. These brackets. are adjustable. longitudinally of the pipe 10 so as tov vary. the spacing between these two wheels if so I desired. It willalso be noted that the vertical portion of the axle shanks 12 may be vertically adjusted in thebearing portion 13 of the bracket" l5.so as to adjust the heightbf the front frame as well as the axle tongue of each ofxthe units with respect to the ground. However, it will be understood that the front wheels 11 are incapable of a swinging or lateral movement as they are rigidlyconnected to thetransverse frame member 10.. Attached to the frontframe in a manner hereinafter described are outside cultivating units 16 and 17 and-inside cultivating units 18 and-l9. These units are connected by means of tubular. tongues or poles 20, 21, 22 and 23 to the front frame. It will be noted that the poles 20 and 22 are of the same length and are relatively shorter than the polesJ2l and 23 so as to alternately .40.

7 space .the units in staggered relationwith respect to each other, tothereby provide suflicient clearance between the units when the tractor is turned to'the right or to the left at the end of the field. The cultivating mechanism embodied in each of these units is identical in every respect and a description of one will sufiice for the other. Each of these units comprises a transverse tubular pipe or supplemental frame member; 24whi'ch is square in cross section, which in-turn has its oppos'iteends clampedin a longitudinally extend;v ing bracket 25 by means of bolts 26. Supporting: the frame of each unit are two spaced apart supportingor gauge wheels 27. whichin turn are, journalled on axles 28. TheseI-akles28 are Se?- cured to the frame 24 by means of vertical shanks 29; The forward ends of the brackets are pivotally connected as shown at 30,-to the longitudinally extending rear portions of each of the rearwardly diverging tongue. extension members 31, which inturn have their forward ends extending longitudinally and secured by means of bolts 32 to the rear ends; ofeachofthetonguesm), 21:, .22: and 23 Thesetoiils le extension members 31 are reinforced I in which the rear end of the pole is fastened Secured to the longitudinally extending frame by a transverse U shaped bar 32. Securedto the transversebar'3'2 is a pole socket bracket;

brackets 25 are two rearwardly'anddownwardly extending beams 34 V which, suppont on} thepppm site sides of each unit cultivating disks 35. These disks are of the, concave-convex type and are adjustablfsecured to thelower'ends ofahwf' these beams in a manner-well understoodinthe" art. J ournalled in the longitudinally'extending brackets in any suitable mannen-vi'siai trans- V cultivator shoe'sl41= attached thereto; Securedto' verse square shaft 36. Secured-to the-opposite ends-sof the shaft 36 are: re'arwardly extending .brackets: or socket members 37 in which are. mounted" rearwardly. and outwardly diverging curved :beams 38. Secured to the rear ends of the beams '38 are brackets 39, inwhich are ad-justably mounted cultivator shanks/10 having adjustable theshaft 36', inany well known manner, is a hand operating'lever generally indicated by the referg In order, to counter ence character-'42, which is adaptedto be manipulated and locked in variouspositions of adjustment I by a detentmechanisrn 43' which operatively en,- gages a quadrant rack 44 secured; to one of the side frame. members 25, as clearly shown in Figs. land 3. 1.1 i balance and to facilitate the adjustment of not only the cultivating shoes 41 of-each unit by the manipulation of the lever 42 V with respect to the disks 35, butto alsoi'assist' in the manipulation of. the lever forloweringthe cultivating mechanismdnto 'thegr'ound, 'I? have provided an extension spring 45, one end of which isoonnected as shown at 4:6:to the free end of the crank 37: The otherend; of the spring is connected to1anear 47 formed on the upper rear 1 endiofseachsofthe pole sockets. 33.

' One of the important features of the present" invention, consistsiin a, novel three point suspen; sion of theframe,.inwhich=the outer truckwheels for each of the two outer gangs or units, together with; truck wheels for thefront frame form-the three supporting. points; and yet at. the :same

: time,these outer units are capable of flexing side ways so as'to properly guide the cultivatingunitsover; the'row crop,,while the inner gang. units are free'to flex laterally as wellas vertically with r'e-f specttothe front-frame. Another important.

featureof; theinvention'is the provision oflirneans whereby the cultivating mechanism of-allthe,

- j maybe raised or lowered to their workingposition by the manipulation of one, lever. which ;is

,- easily operated from; the-operators seat on the tra tor. In this connection the draft ofthetractor is used through a relatively movable ,draft tongue to assist the operator "in manipulating the lever, and forcing the earth Workingqtoolsinto' the'ground. r

' fI'hese-novelfeatures" consist of; a relativfelyunevable tongue generallydndicated by thereference jchaiacterAS, xwhiclrhas its forward end connected by means ofjya draft:clevis-eqgto: a draft; bar 50iof'a tractor; The goperatorsi seat on the tractor is diagrammatically indieatedsby the reference character 51. Journalled on rearwardly and spaced apart brackets 52 which aresecured to the pipe 10 is a transverse shaft 53. g This shaft 53 is poand downwardly extending cranks 56 and 5'1. u

Separately connected ,to' each of these cranks, as showman-5s, are two forwardly convergingv races 59, which have their forward ends extendfing longitudinal y-with and secured by means of 1 bonso'cgtothe' tongue 48:. Secured to the shaft 53 in longitudinal alignment with each of the cultivates unit-tongues 20, 21, 22 and 23 are downwardly extending cranks 61, which have their free ends pivotally connected to'the forward ends ofrelativclymovable rods 62; 5 ,Ilhereamvard ends of the'rods- 62- are adjustably and-pivotally- I eonnectedto the free ends oigpi'votedi plates 63- which are pivoted at;64;to eachside ofieacli of:

the poles of eachgunit, Thelower; free-ends of each of these plates are pivotally eonnectedjby means of connecting-redszfifa which in' to. nhave their-rearward ends pivotally c onnected', as at 66,. to brackets: 67; of the cross axles 2&,[. clearly shown in Figs -Zand'S-Of the drawings,

Secured to the main frame or pipe 10 atl aspoin'tp adjacent to and :onthe oppositesides of the longitudinal centerthereof, are two bracketsftia which are-provided with two downwardly gextending;

ears 69.- Pivote d to each-of these -ears;as sh9Wn at '70, aretwo forwardly convergingmembers-{71,

one of which extends forwardly and is provided; f

with an arcuate sector or rack 72, while the other terminates short of the sector secured thereto for reinforcing the same. Supplemental diver-g s bra e 73 a p v dif iflhflve ir inner ends bolted to the mainf, 1ongitudi-nal tongue; 48,, and their outer ends secured: tokthe diagonal; draft members. 59 adjacent their pivots with each of the crank arms 57. Pivctally; cone;

nected: to the tongue 48, as; shown at 74 is hand operating lever'75which hasan interme-g diate portion, as shown at 76, 'pivoted'tojthesee tor v2. This lever; 75 is providedwith: thegusual det mechan sm nerally n a d'bysthe reference character '77 fer locking the leverin: various positions ofadjustment for; regulating the depth penetration, oft-he cultivatingqtoola or for lockingythe cultiyatingtoolsin raised pe sitien asshown' in Figs; 2 and 53px": the; drawings.

7 As preyiously pointed out, the outside culti-y vatingunits j are capable of pivotal or, j'lateral movement, withrespect to 1 the 7 front frame, but i are incapable of verticaLmovemenh, is

omp ished p ov din vb k t ;ich-;, i,

rigidly secured-V to the: outer "ends of the mainolts; 81, are f rward y -.and oppos t l di posed 'brackets;82 ,which in turn are bolted to-eachjof the tongues 20 and 23 of the outside unit; {Ob-5 fram 1012 nine 1. s b a ke re ro ided with twojrelativelyspaced apart i earwardly exe;

tending: apertured: arms 79 (se'e'Fig.,4),. Pivoted to these i arms ;79. by zmfians-of SimilararmsQOand viously: this; pivotal connection permits the two outside units: '00; Swing, laterally; wit-hresp eot to the front frame, but does not permitithernmto move verticallycwithrespechthereto; f As 7 previously pointed :;out,;the two: inner; units namely. 18*and 1,9 are capable of. movi-ngilaiterally; in either direction. as, well as: vertically with;,re

spect to the front frame; This movement is accomplished by providing two spacedLapart-brack ets 83 which are secured to 'the' pipe" 10, liaving rearwardlyextending arms 84 Pivoted to these arms 84- is "a universal connectingmember 85 which is'preferably in'theform of a Maltese'cross,

as clearly shown in Figs.1-arid5 of' the drawings.

The horizontal 'arms o f this universalmember 85 are pivoted 'b'etweenthe brackets or arms 84 while the vertical portion of this universal member is pivoted, as shown at 86,- to' two spaced apart arms 87 of two oppositely disposed brackets 88- which in'turn are securedtothe forward ends of each of the tongues 21 and-22-respectively.

. The operation of my improved lister cultivator is as followsf- I f Let us assume thatall the units are in their elevated, raised or transporting position, as

shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and'that the implementproper' is: connected to the draft bar of'the tractor. If the operator is desirous of lowering the cultivator tools of all of the units 'will be observed that the tongue 48 together with *the braces or supplemental' 'draft'members 59 will move relatively forward. that is, relatively 'with respect'to the main frame or pipe 10, there- .bymovingtlie cranks 54 and 56' forwardly, and

revolving the' shaftj53 in a counter clockwise direction; as viewed from Figs.-.2 and 3. 'This movement of the shaft 53 int. counter clockwise direction swings each'ofthecranks 61 forwardly and carrieswith it each of -theconnecting rods 62, which in turn, move the plates 63'forwardly and through the connections-65 to each of the truck wheels'27,'will swing fthe truck from the position shown in Fig.3 to the-position shown in Fig. '2. At the sametimeqit will of-course be understood that the operator manipulates the lever 75, from the position shown in Fig. 3, to that shown in Fig. 2. After the lever is locked in the position shown in Fig. 2 all the units simultaneously lower the cultivating: tools to :ground engaging position. If the operatordesires'ito raise the cultivating tools tho inoperative position or to transporting position, the lever 75'is manipulated in the opposite I direction. a For this purpose'the tractor may bebacked to assist'in this raising operation, but the implements are so balanced that the manipulation oflevers operates with sufiicient ease to raise all the-cultivating tools out ofengagement with the ground. Then too; the extension springs of each unit are connected up, in a manner "previously described, to counter 'b'alance a portion "of the weight or force which is neces'sa'ryto raisethe cultivating tools fromthe positi shown int-Fig} to that shown inip t t I While throughout the specification I have de'-- scribed -my invention asapplyingto four units as disclosed in Fig. 1' ofthe drawings, it will of course, be understood that any number, i. e., from three units upwardly,may be used by changing the length of the main frame or pipe 10. It will further be seen that I have provided a simple, compact, as well as'flexible lister cultivator which may be easily and readily manipulated from the I operators seat on the tractor, and which, by reason of its construction, will automatically guide the cultivating tools to follow the row crop.

-In the above specification, I have described one embodiment which may invention may assume in practice, it willofcourse; be-underst'ood that the same is capable of modification, and that modification'may be -made without departing f:

from the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressedin the following claims.

What'l claim as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patentisz 1'. A cultivator comprising a frame, a plurality of units connected to said frame, certain of -said units movable in oneplane only with respect to said frame, certain other of said 'units'movable;

in various planes with respect'to said frame.

2. A cultivator'comprising a frame, a plurality ofcultivating units connected to said framea relatively movable draft member connected to said frame, and means for connecting said draft member with said units for operatively moving the cultivating units into operative engagement with'the grcund; I 3. A cultivator comprising aframe, aplurality frame, certaincf said unitsfioatingly connectedof cultivating units connectedtosaid frame cert tain of said units together with said frame formto said frame, certain other of said units movable in one plane only cultivating tools carried by each of-said units, and a single manually adtools of all of said units.

frame, a plurality of cultivating units connected to said frame, certain of said units being capable of lateral movement only withrespect to said frame, certain other of said units being capable.

of universal movement with respect to said frame, adjustable cultivating-tools carried by each of said units, and a single manually operable'lever operable from the seatof the tractor for simul- "taneously adjusting the tools of all of said units.

6. A cultivator comprising a frame, a plurality of cultivating units connected to said frame, certain of said units being rigid in a vertical plane with respect to said frame, certain other of said 5. A tractor drawn :cultivator comprising a -justable' lever for simultaneously adjusting the times operatively connecting said relatively mov- I able drz'tftinember with said tools, and means for manually controlling the adjustment of an of said tools from said frame;

'7. A cultivator comprising a frame, wheel support for said frame, a plurality of flexible cultivating units connected to said frame, certain of said'units being rigid in one direction with respect to said frame, cultivating tools carried by each of said units, a relatively movable draft member'connected to said frame, and'operative connections connecting said draft member with said toolswhereby the draft on'said draftmeinber may be utilized to simultaneously'force the tools of all of said units into engagementwith the ground.

8. A cultivator comprising a frame, a plurality of cultivating units connected to said frame, a

fmmoniben'veen. certain er aid units and imme for supporting-the cultivator lasra whole on anda latively .-10neitudina11y:mov-

1,9; A cultivator 7mg units Pivotally c nnected to said irame; -c flt1 qable xi-ifeaftr niember-connected *to the 'iorward end 10f said frame :fQrcQntrolIing the adjnstmentjnf fiaideum s-ue Y 3; .v comprising sa jramej cnltirate vating tools carried hyeaeh ofjsaid units, a shaft iouma d in'said fra cran e r d to s 's ha t. I lat e y vah e r e n- "gnectdl 0 said cranks, supplemental {.pl irality of c ltiyatingunits connected tofsaid .traanefia'ch unit-including a supplemental frame,

cu 1;edi toe-said shaft, and operative connections betweensaid supplemental cranks and said, tools mherebythejidraft of said tractor may be utilized :ior, simultaneously forcing ,said tools into the round. r

ity-cofi cultivating units pivoted to said frame,

weentain -of saidai inits movable in one plane, only with respect to said frame, certain ntherjot said he e univ rs l yl m va eres t to .said frame, (cultivating tools carried-by each of, said ;units,;;a;truclg forsu pportingi each of said 155, -:a relatively movable draft member connecting :saidgframe to the source of power, and

movableqconnections connecting said draft member with said truckswhereby the draft of said qfi r may be utilized for forcing said 1, int theground. r r

; ,-1.1.;, A cultiyator comprising; 7a main flame, [a

gauge; wheelssupporting each :franie, a tongue @QQQREQIMQE each supplemental; frame with said main -f rame', each of said tongues being pivoted to said supplemental frames,;;culti-vating tools 7 carried by :said ,supplementallir-ames, and a reladraft-member maybeiitflized forcing the,- cul ti-- ;tiv.ely-.-movah1e draft member connected to said main frame operativel-y Y =.connected to said supplemental-frames whereby the drafts-on said vatingtbols -:o f all of the units into theground.

1-2.}A cultivator comprising a main frame a plurality-of cultivating units connected to said name, each unit including a supplementalframe,

V. gauge -ysrheelssupporting,eachframe, a dengue 'cconnectingireach" supplemental -frame with said mainframe, each of said tongues'beingpivoted l to e i said supplemental frames, cultivating tools gear-tied Joysaid supplemental frames, -a relatively movable. -draft member connected ;to said ,main

' Mame gand1operative connections between said draft member andthe gauge wheels of :said units wheneby the draft on said draft member ;may Jee -utilized in, actuating. all of the tools .of said mits; into 7 and out a of engagement T with the crowd- 13. 'A cultivator comprising afmain frame; ,a'

plurality of. cultivating 1 units -;,connec.ted, to said name, each-unit including-a s'upplementalframer said whelss fmd -;the motto: the exam: my

mum all or the malimhaaid was same;

on'trof -:e

her d. m erativelmconnect d with, .-na1d ;maiii .fraaaet-fnreilocking-ithe ltools etvaugfifyaaidumits in'mmousmositions'ofjadi tm nt, v 1 a V 14.1 aeammercomnr smaf ameywh elmme pont,.-mr mid gimme, a Pllfl'flliflfii fivotad multiunitsrnonnectedfio said ,irameeulttvatirm movable air-aft member ed atoyaaid :frame.

nt with fl emundamdmm I mahy'npembki evenmeuntedmsaidfiraft mema sector miwotedtmsaid drait members, -a-,:lewer .pivotally c to said fi-ame and-ytc-z'said sector whereby the drafton' said may be ntilimditcfaidin manipulation. or

saidclevzer :1 usly :foree. maid tools.

LI." ,1}? 55 ef /ii, Fit

7 v-15A.:1A.cultivatm compris n as, main. ml'lfl plumlfliy 'nf icul units jeonmcte'd to said me mee unit-anciudms-ammvl mental fme, 7

egauaewheelssupportinz each-frame; a tonguecome nesting eachimmp a; 7 with-maid iframe', :eaehfleaid immues-rbeinghptvoted {supplemental cultivating tooiscanricd by em lsupplementaleframe, ;.a"relatively. :mogable :tclrartg-memher connected to said", I

:operatimeiconnections betweenrsaid' dmft-inmnher v {I and said gauze wheelsrei auidaunit' 111 B mam-en said-.xdmtt-moniber may the maizemnf actuating ot, the" of saidmnitmintomd .m t of engagementmththezmmidira :sector med to maid first :named" frame-mud @amanuaw operable lever ,mivotsd-ito said fire-it member :and' to esaid seotonfor dockiim theitools all of 'sai units infirm-i0: sgmsitionsof:adiuttmerite -16. Acultivatormmprising a fizamenaflurali aofri cnltivatmzsimitsiconnected'twsaidii'amena umlatively movable draft nonneqtedso' :said irammmeansilor lconnedtmgxsaid draittmem :ber with mini Mlits, 0 .-;o penativeivi moving sthe cultimtingimmsinto maerativeeent the astound; and :a lever pivotedytogaaid dmfit member and nnerativels'. connected to :all of, @fi

f0! docking said -of-addustment. :4

n in-Weriousmositions cultivating imolsaeanried day each: Ema runltai-a transverse reek, :shaft on maid: frame,

connections 10'! connecting units with, said mookshait, ia;. re1atiw notable vvxii-nit *withrespect tosaid I are. Mmeemmmmegrenigi asitana units plvotally to mid -irame;z-cu1.tivatingtoolsLearr-iedl-by each-ottsaidimits, anti-ans,- verse'rock shaft mounted on said tions tormannecting said -imits with;.flflid-jfmk shaft-a relattveiremevabl'e dmtt membencmmectconnected to =rocksshhtt, and ,means or ,ad- .justing'zthe xitelative position :of; said draft; member ed to said rockshaft, and a mannallyfadjustahle Y lever pivotal-l! ioonneoted gtoksald inember and operatively to said frame odor adjusting :the relative position of :said adi afwtmember with respect to saidtrame. v, 

